Big Ideas 1. Students should understand how the Age of Reason came about. Due to the new thought during the Scientific Revolution, this change was based on logic and reasoning rather than theory and faith. The Enlightenment began to reject the traditional Christian dogma and begin to question what was "real". With the help of the philosophes, the idea of change helped spread the enlightened ideas throughout Europe.
2. The Philosophes-- Montesquieu, Voltaire, Diderot, Rousseau-- made up the Enlightenment as well as many other reformers. Each one was expressing new ways of rational thinking. Montesquieu (author of The Spirit of Laws) focused on separation of powers and maintaining a balance between the three branches of government. As a student one should know that Voltaire was best known for his criticisms of religious and social intolerance. Diderot made an enormous contribution to the rational thought of the Enlightenment by his Encyclopedia.And fought for religious tolerance through his belief in Deism. Last, as a student one should keep in mind Rousseau's The Social Contractwhere he fought for direct democracy and the power of the "general will".
3. During the Enlightenment there was an increased interest in progress, religious tolerance and Deism. As a student progress in the Enlightenment should mean the developing knowledge of the natural and logical world. Most of the philosophes main goals were to reform the governmental system (which means departing from the ideas of inequality and human cruelty). Also, most philosophes were aiming toward religious tolerance. This meant all religions could live equally among Europe which would disregard war and leave room for technological and educational advancements. Last, as a student one should keep in mind that most all philosophes were Deist. Deism was based on a Newtonian view of the world as a world time machine created by God. This meant that God created humankind but no longer interferes with the world. This emphasized that religion has nothing to do with logic and the world, so religion should be disregarded when reasoning.
4. As a student one should know that the Enlightenment changed almost every aspect in society. Not only was their social reform but the citizens interests were changing as well. There was a progressive movement in art, music and literature. Art transformed to a Neoclassical style and Rococo emerged in architecture (best expressed in the work of Balthasar Neumann). Also as a student, one should understand that this period of time became a huge advancement in music. Some of the best musicians of all time wrote music during the Enlightenment. Especially, child prodigy, Mozart. This musician even shifted the musical focus from Italy to Austria which proves his talent. Last, the Enlightenment brought literature into the 18th century. This period of time emerged the acknowledgment the importance of writing history as well as fiction novels.
Essential Questions 1.What new approaches to thinking led to the emergence of the Enlightenment? 2.Who were the Philosophes and what are each of them best known for? 3.What did the Philosophes strive for? 4.How did art, music and literature evolve throughout the 18th century?
Primary Sources Visual In the 18th century, with the knowledge of Europe's war history, their became a new approach of logic and reason. This new way of intellectual thinking focused on logic rather than theoretical thought. Because religion and war are often coupled together, enlightened thinkers urged for secularization. This meant that religion and politics would be a separate matter and one's method of worship would be private. The point of view of this cartoon is directed toward the leaders of the Catholic church and the Jesuits. I think that this is picture proves a point and that secularization is important in a society. The philosophes argued the idea of secularization and thought it was important because without separating the government and religion, civil wars and wars throughout Europe would continue to occur.
Written-->Click Here! Kant argued that all human “experiences” reflect onto the world, giving them a perspective and since no one actually knows what other people see, the idea of “reasoning” is worthless. Kant went against the other philosophes by criticizing reason as an invalid approach to thought. In this document, Kant is arguing that many do not think for themselves and simply believe what others (priests, etc) have told them is true. I think he is directing this toward religious followers who do not question anything. He is also saying that if one does think for themselves they have freed "themselves from immaturity and pursuing a secure course". This is an important document because it shows that what the philosophes were writing about did not always advance because some were arguing against the overarching idea of logic and reason.
Useful Map
Click Here for Larger View As you can see, even during the Age of Reason, the Roman Catholic church was still the dominant religion in Europe. Many citizens remained Catholic despite the philosophes secular / often deistic views. Europe did not necessarily change there ways rather they followed the authority and power which was used by the Roman Catholic church and Protestant Church.
Big Ideas
1. Students should understand how the Age of Reason came about. Due to the new thought during the Scientific Revolution, this change was based on logic and reasoning rather than theory and faith. The Enlightenment began to reject the traditional Christian dogma and begin to question what was "real". With the help of the philosophes, the idea of change helped spread the enlightened ideas throughout Europe.
2. The Philosophes-- Montesquieu, Voltaire, Diderot, Rousseau-- made up the Enlightenment as well as many other reformers. Each one was expressing new ways of rational thinking. Montesquieu (author of The Spirit of Laws) focused on separation of powers and maintaining a balance between the three branches of government. As a student one should know that Voltaire was best known for his criticisms of religious and social intolerance. Diderot made an enormous contribution to the rational thought of the Enlightenment by his Encyclopedia. And fought for religious tolerance through his belief in Deism. Last, as a student one should keep in mind Rousseau's The Social Contract where he fought for direct democracy and the power of the "general will".
3. During the Enlightenment there was an increased interest in progress, religious tolerance and Deism. As a student progress in the Enlightenment should mean the developing knowledge of the natural and logical world. Most of the philosophes main goals were to reform the governmental system (which means departing from the ideas of inequality and human cruelty). Also, most philosophes were aiming toward religious tolerance. This meant all religions could live equally among Europe which would disregard war and leave room for technological and educational advancements. Last, as a student one should keep in mind that most all philosophes were Deist. Deism was based on a Newtonian view of the world as a world time machine created by God. This meant that God created humankind but no longer interferes with the world. This emphasized that religion has nothing to do with logic and the world, so religion should be disregarded when reasoning.
4. As a student one should know that the Enlightenment changed almost every aspect in society. Not only was their social reform but the citizens interests were changing as well. There was a progressive movement in art, music and literature. Art transformed to a Neoclassical style and Rococo emerged in architecture (best expressed in the work of Balthasar Neumann). Also as a student, one should understand that this period of time became a huge advancement in music. Some of the best musicians of all time wrote music during the Enlightenment. Especially, child prodigy, Mozart. This musician even shifted the musical focus from Italy to Austria which proves his talent. Last, the Enlightenment brought literature into the 18th century. This period of time emerged the acknowledgment the importance of writing history as well as fiction novels.
Essential Questions
1.What new approaches to thinking led to the emergence of the Enlightenment?
2.Who were the Philosophes and what are each of them best known for?
3.What did the Philosophes strive for?
4.How did art, music and literature evolve throughout the 18th century?
Primary Sources
Visual
In the 18th century, with the knowledge of Europe's war history, their became a new approach of logic and reason. This new way of intellectual thinking focused on logic rather than theoretical thought. Because religion and war are often coupled together, enlightened thinkers urged for secularization. This meant that religion and politics would be a separate matter and one's method of worship would be private. The point of view of this cartoon is directed toward the leaders of the Catholic church and the Jesuits. I think that this is picture proves a point and that secularization is important in a society. The philosophes argued the idea of secularization and thought it was important because without separating the government and religion, civil wars and wars throughout Europe would continue to occur.
Written-->Click Here!
Kant argued that all human “experiences” reflect onto the world, giving them a perspective and since no one actually knows what other people see, the idea of “reasoning” is worthless. Kant went against the other philosophes by criticizing reason as an invalid approach to thought. In this document, Kant is arguing that many do not think for themselves and simply believe what others (priests, etc) have told them is true. I think he is directing this toward religious followers who do not question anything. He is also saying that if one does think for themselves they have freed "themselves from immaturity and pursuing a secure course". This is an important document because it shows that what the philosophes were writing about did not always advance because some were arguing against the overarching idea of logic and reason.
Useful Map
As you can see, even during the Age of Reason, the Roman Catholic church was still the dominant religion in Europe. Many citizens remained Catholic despite the philosophes secular / often deistic views. Europe did not necessarily change there ways rather they followed the authority and power which was used by the Roman Catholic church and Protestant Church.
10 important terms
Enlightenment QUIZ
Rousseau's Facebook
Rousseau's Page
Sources used
http://www.wsu.edu/~dee/ENLIGHT/PHIL.HTM
http://www.sparknotes.com/history/european/enlightenment/terms.html
http://history-world.org/rousseau.htm